An experimental configuration to provide data on the response of foams to shocks generated by an explosive donor was described in an earlier paper. In the original technique Laser interferometery was used to monitor the wave transmitted through the samples. The diagnostics have recently been improved by adding PVDF pressure gauges. It has been shown that pressure gauges give results which are consistent with those obtained using the inherently more accurate velocity gauges. The use of pressure gauges has allowed the transmitted wave to be monitored at more locations in the experiment than was achievable with interferometery alone. Control experiments using non-porous samples, and a series of experiments with foams of equal density but formed from materials having three different solid densities, are described. The results are available for Equation of State development and the “benchmarking” of 1 and 2D hydrocodes. The program was supported by hydrocode calculations using EoS formulations developed at AWE. ©2000 American Institute of Physics.